The European Commission announced on 11 March the establishment of a European Migration Policy Centre (EMPC), as a new platform for linking policy-making and research that should open in autumn 2008. The EMPC, which will be set up by the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence, Italy, aims at providing policy-makers and other stakeholders with methodologies that address migration governance needs. “The main goal of the new European Migration Policy Centre will be to translate research findings into realistic policy recommendations and thus help guide Europe's policy options in the future. Europe needs to have research on its side," said Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security, Franco Frattini.